Mechanical movement.



' PATENTBD JAN. 6, 1903.

J. 1). MoFARLAND, JR- MEGHANIGAL MOVEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED ST TES P TENT OFFICE.

JAMES I). MCFARLAND, JR., OF FRUITVALE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO JOHN BRUCKMAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

' SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 717,901, dated January6. 1903.

Application filed June 16,1902- Serial No. 111,902. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES D. MCFARLAND, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fruitvale, county of Alameda, State of California,have invented an Improvement in Mechanical Movements forExplosive-Engines; and I hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates generally to a mechanical movement which is hereinspecifically applied to an engine of the four-cycle oscillatingexplosive type.

The invention consists, essentially, of three tracks or guides lying inthe same general plane and extending in the same general die rection, aswitch-arm pivoted to the central track and adapted to swing from sideto side against one or the other of the outer tracks, arms pivoted onthe latter and each arm connected with the switch on the opposite sidethereof, whereby the oscillation of the arm in one direction actspositively to cause the switch to oscillate in the same direction, and acarriage reciprocable between said tracks and adapted on eachreciprocation to engage one of said arms to operate the switch and causethe carriage on its return movement to travel upon another track.

It comprises details which will be more fully set forth hereinafter,having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside view of an oscillatingcylinder engine embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section transversely throughthe cylinder and switch-plate on the line X X, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a planView of Fig. 3 with the arm 17 omitted. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionthrough the switch-plate on the line m, Fig. 4. i

A represents the frame of an oscillatingcylinder engine. The cylinder 2is provided with the pivots 3 at its outer end, by which it is supportedin the frame.

4 is a plate secured to the cylinder at a point adjacent to the pivotend. This plate carries the electrodes and 6, which extend through thecylinder into the combustionchamber. The electrode 5 is stationary andis in electrical connection with the engine, while the electrode 6 isrotatable and insulated andis connected with the battery. The

.contact by means of a spring 16.

9 is a plate having the slots ,l0 10 secured to the plate 4 and disposedin suitable relation to the electrodes. The slots 10 10" are separatedfora portion of their length by the partition 11. A switch 12 is pivotedto the partition and is movable in the space at the end thereof and isadapted to swing from side to side against the .outer wall of one or theother of the slots. The

plate has a central wedge-shaped projection 13 in line with the switch,so that when the latter is alined with the partition 11 the partition,switch, and projection 13 will form a continuous division-wall betweenthe slots. The pivot of the switch extends below the plate 9 and isprovided with arms 14, which are adapted to be engaged to oscillate theswitch. This oscillation is effected by means of the bell-crank levers15, which are fulcrumed one on each side of the plate 9 and have one armoperating above the plate and the other arm curved and operating beneaththe plate and each lever havingits lower arm engaging an arm 14 on theside opposite to which said lever is fulcrumed, so that the oscillationof the upper arm in one direction will cause the switch to turn in thesame direction. Conversely, when the switch is turned in the oppositedirection it will carry the same lever-arm back with it. The dispositionand length of the upper lever-arms 15 15' are such that when-forexample, as in Fig. t-the switch lies against the wall adjacent to thearm of 15 the arm of 15 will incline substantially parallel with theswitch and will bridge over the rear end of slot 10 and will form acontinuous line with the wall of the wedge .13 adjacent to the switch.

Upon the frame A and in suitable position to the above-describedmechanism is a bracket or projecting arm 17, supporting a carriage whichis reciprocable in the slots 10 10 with the oscillation of the cylinderand effects a contact with an arm 18 on every fourth oscillation torotate the electrode 5 and cause the explosion. The carriage may consistof a block slidable on the arm 17, or, as I prefer, it may consist of afinger 19, pivoted to the arm, as at 20, having an oscillating movementat right angles to the plane of oscillation of the cylinder. By means ofspring 21 the pivot-bolt 20 can be kept tight, so that the finger willalways move against considerable resistance, which is desirable inoperation, so that the finger may act properly in relation to theswitch. The disposition of the parts is such that the finger will be atthe switch end of the slots when the cylinder has reached the limit ofoscillation in one direction, and the slots will be long enough tofreely accommodate the finger during the complete oscillation of thecylinder in the other direction.

In operation assume that the operation of the cylinder has brought thefinger 19 to the end of slot 10 and that the switch is in the positionshown in Fig. 4. As the cylinder swings back the finger moves till itstrikes the upper 1ever-arm 15 and straightens the latter out till itisparallel with the slot. This movement of the lever, however, causes theswitch to turn; but its length is so proportioned that it does notinterfere with the finger, but falls in behind the latter and restsagainst the outer wall of the slot 10 as the finger and cylinder reachthe end of their movement, so that on the next oscillation of thecylinder the finger will be directed into slot 10. On the return of thefinger into slot 10 a similar operation of the switch takes place todivert the finger, and the latter moves back and forth first in one slotand then in the other, however rapid may be the speed of the engine.Just as the switch turns into slot 10' behind the finger the latterengages the arm 18 to rock the electrode 5 and cause the spark. Theimpulse of explosion and the consequent movement of the piston andcylinder cause the finger to travel along the switch into slot 10. Thereturn movement of the finger in slot 10 corresponds to the period ofexhaust. The movement back into slot 10 corresponds to suction. Thereturn movement in slot 10 corresponds to compressiou.

The mechanism thus described affords a simple positive automatic sparkerfor fourcycle engines of the oscillating type.

It is obvious that the same principle of an automatic switch andreciprocating carriage may be utilized and applied in a variety of waysnot necessary here to mention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of three guide members disposed side by side, aswitch pivoted to the intermediate member, and bell-crank leversfulcrumed one on each side of said central member, said bell-cranklevers connected with the switch whereby the latter is oscillated inunison with said levers.

2. The combination of three guide or track members disposed side byside, a switch pivoted to the intermediate member, a lever-arm pivotedto each of the outer tracks and connections between said arms and theswitch whereby the latter is turned to engage one or the other of thetracks according as a respective arm is moved to lie parallel with itstrack.

3. The combination of three guide or track members, a switch pivoted tothe intermediate guide and adapted to be swung from side to side toengage one or the other of the outer guides, arms pivoted upon thelatter, connections therebetween and the switch, and a movable partengaging said arms alternately to throw the switch.

4. The combination of a slotted guide-plate, a switch pivoted betweenthe slots of said plate and adapted to swing from side to side andengage the outer walls of either of 'said slots, bell-crank leversdisposed one on each side of said switch and each having one armengaging the opposite side of the switch, the other arm of said leversextending into the path between said guides and a carriage movablebetween said guides.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES D. MCFARLAND, JR.

Witnesses:

S. H. Nouasn, H. F. DEXTER.

